This is a scene straight out of the Gospels. After He calmed a storm with a few words, Jesus and the disciples just crossed the Sea of Galilee. The men step onto the shore in the Gerasenes region, a Gentile area far from the Jewish crowds. From the tombs nearby, a terrifying figure rushes toward […]
The Screams of the Demoniac: Christ’s Authority Over Legion Read More »
It’s dark, intense, and wildly imaginative, the kind of stuff that feels right at home in a Gothic setting. There’s towering visions of cosmic chaos, monstrous beasts with horns and heads rising from the sea, dragons spewing fire, skies rolling up like a scroll, stars falling like figs in a storm, and blood-red moons. There’s
The Gothic Appeal of Revelation’s Apocalyptic Visions Read More »
Hey everyone, let’s dive into this intriguing topic: the serpent and the cross, and how they tie into the idea of deception. You know, symbols like these pop up all over history, religion, and culture, carrying layers of meaning that can twist your perspective if you’re not careful. The serpent often slithers in as a
The Serpent & the Cross: The Symbolism of Deception Read More »
From the sixth hour to the ninth hour, roughly noon to three in the afternoon, darkness covered the whole land. The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ stands out as a pivotal moment in history, and the Bible describes how nature reacted. Passover was during a full moon, so a natural solar eclipse was impossible. The sky
Thunder Over Calvary: Nature’s Response to the Crucifixion Read More »
Among the most touching stories in the Bible is Rizpah’s in 2 Samuel 21 about maternal devotion and quiet resistance. Three long years of severe famine hits Israel, leaving the land parched and the people hungry. God reveals to King David that the hardship is a result of Saul’s earlier actions against the Gibeonites, so
Rizpah’s Silent Vigil: A Mother’s Unyielding Guard Over Her Sons’ Bodies in 2 Samuel 21 Read More »
It was common for the Desert Fathers, those early Christian hermits who went into the Egyptian desert starting in the third century, to pray in places that screamed death, like graveyards or old tombs. For a while, Anthony the Great lived in a rock tomb, blocking himself in to pray, fast, and deal with distractions.
Graveyard Contemplation: Praying Among Tombs Like the Desert Fathers Read More »
There are many ways for Christian groups to gather in a cemetery setting, focusing on reflection, prayer, community, and honoring the hope of resurrection. Graveyards are peaceful, meaningful backdrops that remind us of life’s brevity and eternity. During graveyard fellowships, everyone walks through the rows, stops at graves, reads the inscriptions, and prays for the
Graveyard Fellowship Ideas Read More »
Despite being portrayed as simple, heartwarming stories meant to comfort and guide, the parables of Jesus hold heavy shadows, sharp warnings, and unflinching judgments. There’s something different about these darker parables because they don’t soften spiritual reality, instead they go straight into themes like rejection, violence, exclusion, final separation, and the weight of our choices
Dark Parables of Jesus Read More »
There’s no drama like Korah’s rebellion in Numbers 16. Dathan and Abiram from Reuben, along with On and 250 prominent leaders from the congregation, team up with Korah, a Levite from the Kohath clan. They accuse Moses and Aaron of going too far, of exalting themselves above everyone else. Moses and Aaron argue that the
Korah’s Rebellion: The Bad, The Worse, and The Hungry Earth Read More »
This is Athaliah in 2 Kings 11, and her story is one of the darkest spots in the Bible. She’s so hungry for power she wipes out her own grandkids. In the northern kingdom of Israel, Ahab and Jezebel, the power couple who pushed Baal worship hard and hated God’s prophets, raised Athaliah. Jehoram, son
Athaliah slaughtering her grandchildren to seize the throne – 2 Kings: 11 Read More »
